Barbecue grill and hinge

Abstract

An outdoor cooking appliance, such as a “Barbeque Grill”, having a body and a lid. The lid is connected to the body by a hinge assembly and is movable between a first, closed position and a second, open position. As the lid is moved between the first and second positions, the hinge assembly counterbalances the weight of the lid so that the lid does not close of its own accord and may be positioned at one of plurality of positions intermediate between the closed and the open positions. The hinge assembly includes two arms that are pivotally interconnected. The hinge assembly preferably includes a linkage that interconnects the one of the two arms of the hinge assembly to the lid to permit the hinge to reside in a location that is relatively removed from and remote to the lid so that the hinge assembly. In a further embodiment, the hinge is adjustable.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 512,172 for BARBECUE GRILL AND HINGE, filed Oct. 17, 2003.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to outdoor cooking appliances. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cooking appliance of the type having a body with a receptacle and a lid, with the lid operatively connected to the body and movable with respect thereto, so that it may be moved between a closed position, where it substantially covers the receptacle, and an open position permitting access to the receptacle. Outdoor cooking appliances of this type are often called “Barbeque (BBQ) Grills”. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Outdoor cooking appliances or “barbeques” have been used for many years. Typically, they comprise a freestanding body and a lid. The body has a bottom and sidewalls that define an open ended receptacle into which cooking eleme...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] Briefly, the present invention comprises a hinge assembly suitable for use with an outdoor cooking apparatus of the type comprising a receptacle having a bottom and sidewalls that define an open end, and a lid configured to substantially cover the open end of the receptacle, the hinge assembly operatively connecting the lid to the receptacle such that the lid is movable with respect thereto between a closed position, wherein the lid substantially covers the open end of the receptacle, and a plurality of open positions in which a gap exists between the lid and at least one sidewall of the receptacle, the hinge assembly comprising: a first arm configured to be operatively connected to either one of said receptacle or said lid; a second arm configured to be operatively connected to the other one of said receptacle or said lid, wherein the first and second arm are movably connected to each other; and, means for counterbalancing the weight of the lid; whereby, when the lid is moved to one of the plurality of open positions, the lid is able to remain in such open position in the absence of external forces acting on the lid.

[0009] Generally, the hinge assembly comprises a first arm and a second arm, with the first and second arms operatively connected to and movable with respect to each other. The hinge assembly includes a means for counterbalancing the weight of the lid as it is rotated between the closed and open positions. The means for counterbalancing is operatively connected to the first and second arms, and is configured and arranged so that the first and second arms are biased in a first rotational direction with respect to each other. This rotational biasing allows the hinge assembly to counterbalance the weight of a lid as it is moved from the closed position to an open position. The rotational biasing also allows the lid to be positioned at a predetermined position.

[0017] In operation, the hinge assembly counteracts the weight of the lid as the lid is moved between the closed and open positions. Thus, for example, a user may position the lid at any point along a range of angles, and the lid will stay in that position, absent an external force acting there against. Preferably, the range of angles is from about 1 degree to about 65 degrees. The hinge assembly also allows the lid to be positioned at a predetermined angle, where the lid is biased from either direction toward a neutral position. Preferably, the neutral position is in the range of around 65 degrees. When the lid is moved beyond the neutral position of about 65 degrees, it swings open in a normal manner.

Problems solved by technology

The force of the lid slamming into the body can jar food items off the grill or cooking surface, damage the lid and / or body, and possibly cause injury to a user or perhaps someone else with their hand on the body.

This is not always possible with those appliances that are heated by combustible material such as charcoal briquettes and / or wood chips, however, because the lid has to be opened-up and the grill or cooking surface often has to be removed in order to access to the charcoal briquettes and / or wood chips.

In view of the difficulties and potential dangers involved with these steps, it is often most expedient for users to adjust the temperature by partially lifting the lid relative to the open end of the receptacle.

Unfortunately, most outdoor cooking appliance lids are not capable of being positioned in a partially open position.

Thus, using the position of the lid to control the temperature of the cooking chamber is often an inadequate and imprecise activity.

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